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Kelaniya University winning team – Varsity Battles 2023 (inter-University quiz competition)
The Varsity Battles 2023, the inaugural inter-university capital market quiz competition, organised by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) and Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), was held last week at the Grand Kandyan Hotel, Kandy, with the participation of 39 teams from 13 state universities. The team from the Kelaniya University Faculty of Commerce and Management (Kelaniya Mavericks) emerged as winner of the overall competition that offered a cash prize of Rs. 300,000/-.
SEC Chairman Faizal Salieh, CSE Chairman Dilshan Wirasekara, SEC Director General Chinthaka Mendis, CSE Chief Regulatory Officer Renuke Wijayawardhane, SEC Deputy Director General Tushara Jayaratne, and CSE Senior Vice President Marketing Niroshan Wijesundere, along with other officials from the SEC and CSE were present at the Varsity Battles 2023.
The Moratuwa University Faculty of Engineering (Mora Sharks) was placed first runner-up and received a cash prize of Rs. 200,000/- while the Peradeniya University Faculty of Medicine (Pera Prodigies) was placed second runner-up with a Rs. 100,000/- cash award.
The objective of Varsity Battles 2023 is to create awareness and educate university students on capital markets and enhance financial literacy among university students. The first stage of the quiz (inter-faculty quiz) was launched in May 2023. The inter-faculty quiz competition was conducted at 13 state universities, and the top three teams with the highest scores in this stage were promoted to the final stage.
Participants in the quiz competition were tested on their knowledge in Global Markets, General Knowledge, Sri Lankan Economy and Businesses, Current Affairs, Sports, Entertainment and other areas in relation to the management of financial securities.
Commenting on the initiative, CSE Chairman Dilshan Wirasekara said: “The Quiz Competition is another initiative of the CSE in collaboration with the SEC to create awareness on the importance of financial, investor, and capital market education. Thus, this initiative highlights the importance of financial literacy for every undergraduate in Sri Lanka.”
“SEC and CSE initiated Varsity Battles with the intention of convincing the public that financial education could be quite an exciting and fun-filled engagement. This interest in the universities to participate and view this quiz as a fun and engaging learning experience has been vital to the success of this event,” he added.
Speaking at the competition, SEC Chairman Faizal Salieh said: “Understanding basic financial skills and concepts is not merely an individual responsibility but a cornerstone for a successful financial future. In 2009, the SEC conducted the inaugural Inter-University Quiz Competition, which set the stage for Varsity Battles 2023, the first-ever University Quiz organised by the SEC in collaboration with the CSE. A financially literate generation, nurtured through initiatives like this, would undoubtedly contribute to a more prosperous and resilient society.”
Salieh added, “This program aims to create opportunities for undergraduate students to enhance their understanding of the capital market, potentially motivating them to explore stock market investment and pursue careers in the capital market sector.”
The quiz was followed by a fellowship for all participants.
The inaugural edition of Varsity Battles 2023 was supported by First Capital Holdings PLC and Bartleet Religare Securities Ltd. as Platinum Sponsors.
The Gold sponsors for the event were AICPA and CIMA Sri Lanka, Capital Trust Holdings Ltd., London Stock Exchange Group Sri Lanka, CT CLSA Securities Ltd., and Senfin Securities Ltd.
Lanka Securities Ltd, LOLC Holdings PLC, Asha Securities Ltd, Softlogic Stockbrokers Ltd, Almas Equities Ltd., and Senfin Asset Management Ltd. have come onboard as the Silver sponsors.
The co-sponsors of the event were Vidullanka PLC, Acap Stock Brokers Ltd., Millennium IT ESP Ltd., CryptoGen Ltd., Data Management Systems Ltd., Sunshine Holdings PLC, Barista Coffee Lanka Ltd., Cargills (Ceylon) PLC, Lanka IOC PLC, N-able Ltd., E Futures Ltd., Hemas Holdings PLC, and Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) PLC.
Further, SriLankan Airlines joined Varsity Battles 2023 as the official airlines partner.
